Monday, May 14, 2012

The Age of Kickstarter is upon us and I am enjoying it quite a bit. I've backed a number of projects so far: OtherSpace, StarDrive, Double Fine, The Banner Saga, Shadowrun Returns, Wasteland 2, Storybricks, and Two Guys SpaceVenture. Surprisingly, I've had a fun time doing it.

Besides the actual result and the listed rewards, I've found that there is another benefit to backing some of these projects. The teams behind them often send out updates on their progress. Sometimes these are just quick notes, but other times they are a lot more.

Two Guys has sent out a number of mini-podcasts already and even a quick prototype that has to do with their new game. The Shadowrun crew has sent out videos and just recently a survey asking where the location of one of the new areas should be. Looks like Berlin is winning at the moment.

While not specifically sent to backers, Storybricks sent out a demo of their product so people can see what it is all about. It lets you play through a story and even create your own. Double Fine has also sent out special videos to its backers.

Kickstarter can really make you feel involved in what you backed, and I think that is one of the best parts about it.